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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ippadithan Irukka

From Vivasayee · 1967

Lyricist
Udumalai Narayanakavi
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Vivasayee1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ippadithaan irukka venum pombalaA woman should be just like this,
English’-u padichaalum inbathamizh naatileEven if she learns English in the sweet Tamil land.
Ippadithaan irukka venum pombalaA woman should be just like this.
Female
Unga sorpadiyeAccording to your word,
Nadandhukkuren sollungaI will conduct myself; please tell me.
Naan eppadi eppadi irukanumoHowever I am supposed to be,
Appadi appadi maathungaChange me in that very way.
Sorpadiye nadandhukkuren sollungaI will follow your word; please tell me.
Male : Ippadithaan irukka venum pombalaMale: A woman should be just like this.
Male
Vaanam paartha vivasayingaFarmers depend on the sky for rain,
Naadu allavooIs that not what this land is about?
Ingu maanam naanam pengalukuHere, honor and modesty for women,
Aadai allavooAre like their clothing, aren't they?
Adhuku… ippadithaan irukka venum pombalaThat is why... a woman should be just like this.
Male
Udal azhagai oorumecha kaatakoodaadhuOne shouldn't display body beauty just to win local praise,
Mele udupugalai idupu theriya maatakoodaadhuUpper clothes shouldn't be worn revealing the waist.
Udal azhagai oorumecha kaatakoodaadhuOne shouldn't display body beauty just to win local praise,
Mele udupugalai idupu theriya maatakoodaadhuUpper clothes shouldn't be worn revealing the waist.
Udhattu mele sivapu saayam theetakoodaadhuRed paint should not be smeared over the lips,
Yer uzhavarukku yetra panbai maatrakoodaadhuThe traditional virtues suited for plowmen shouldn't be altered.
Female
Naalukunaal naagarigam maaridumbodhuWhen modern civilization changes day by day,
Konjam naamalundhaan maarikittaaIf we also change just a little bit,
Adhile thappedhuWhat is wrong in that?
Naalukunaal naagarigam maaridumbodhuWhen modern civilization changes day by day,
Konjam naamalundhaan maarikittaaIf we also change just a little bit,
Adhile thappedhuWhat is wrong in that?
Male
Ippadithaan irukka venum pombalaA woman should be just like this.
Male
Poo mudinja koondhalDoes hair adorned with flowers,
Pazhaiya neelam irukudhaaStill have its traditional long length?
Ipo ponmbalainga ellaathukkumNowadays, for all women,
Puruvam irukudhaaDo eyebrows even exist anymore?
Poo mudinja koondhalDoes hair adorned with flowers,
Pazhaiya neelam irukudhaaStill have its traditional long length?
Ipo ponmbalainga ellaathukkumNowadays, for all women,
Puruvam irukudhaaDo eyebrows even exist anymore?
Kazhudha thenji katterumbaachi naatileIn a land where a donkey degraded into a carpenter ant,
Pengal kaariyathai aambala paakiraan veetileMen are doing women's chores at home.
Female
Ellaarodu ennaiyum serka koodaadhuDo not group me together with everyone else,
Velai edhu koduthaalum seiven thappaadhuWhatever work you give, I will do without fail.
Ellaarodu ennaiyum serka koodaadhuDo not group me together with everyone else,
Velai edhu koduthaalum seiven thappaadhuWhatever work you give, I will do without fail.
SollungaTell me!
Male
Kalai edukanum vilaiya vekkanumWe must weed the field and nurture the crop,
Kadhiru muthinaa vayal arukanumWhen the grain matures, we must harvest the field,
Kattum sumakanum kalamum sekkanumWe must carry the sheaves and bring them to the threshing floor,
Kaatha paathu thoothi vidanumWatching the direction of the wind, we must winnow the grain.
Kaala neram kadandhidaamaWithout letting proper time pass,
Naalaa velaiyum naame paarkanumWe ourselves must do all four seasonal farm chores.
Male
Ippadithaan irukka venum pombalaA woman should be just like this,
English’-u padichaalum inbathamizh naatileEven if she learns English in the sweet Tamil land,
Ippadithaan irukka venum pombalaA woman should be just like this.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful yet culturally loaded duet from the 1967 film 'Vivasayee' features a conversation between a traditional farmer (played by M.G. Ramachandran) and a young woman (played by K.R. Vijaya). The hero advocates for traditional rural values, female modesty, and native Tamil customs, cautioning against excessive Western influence, revealing modern attire, cosmetics, and the fading of traditional aesthetics like long oiled hair. In response, the heroine argues that adapting mildly to modern times is natural, while proving her worth by asserting her dedication to hard agricultural labor alongside men.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverb / Folk Idiom

Kazhudha thenji katterumbaachi naatile

The line uses a famous Tamil proverbial idiom 'Kazhudha thenji katterumbaachi' (a donkey diminishing until it becomes a tiny ant) to satirize modern societal decay and role reversal.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

kaatakoodaadhu / maatakoodaadhu / theetakoodaadhu / maatrakoodaadhu

The refrain uses repeating suffix rhymes ending in 'koodaadhu' (should not) across multiple consecutive lines to build rhythmic discipline.

Monai (Initial Alliteration / Rhythm)

Kalai edukanum vilaiya vekkanum / Kadhiru muthinaa vayal arukanum / Kattum sumakanum kalamum sekkanum / Kaatha paathu thoothi vidanum

Heavy use of 'Ka' initial consonant sound across agricultural action verbs, creating a brisk tempo reflecting dynamic farm labor.

Antithesis (Eppadi - Appadi)

Naan eppadi eppadi irukanumo / Appadi appadi maathunga

Use of contrasting correlative adverbs ('eppadi eppadi' and 'appadi appadi') to show total submission and willingness to adapt.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Vivasayee' (1967), directed by M. A. Thirumugam and produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Devar, was a major hit that reinforced MGR's screen image as the champion of the agrarian working class. Lyricist Udumalai Narayanakavi, famously known as 'Kavirayar', was celebrated for inserting rationalist thoughts, social commentary, and agricultural terminology seamlessly into popular film songs.

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